After Frunze — Dzerzhinsky.
The old Leninist guard has lost yet another of its finest leaders and fighters. The Party has suffered yet another irreplaceable loss.
Now, as one stands by the open coffin, one recalls the whole path traversed by Dzerzhinsky — prisons, hard labour, exile, the Extraordinary Commission for combating counter-revolution, the restoration of ruined transport, the building of young socialist industry — and one wants to characterise this astonishing life in a single word. This word is: burning. Burning and the fierce joy of struggle amid difficulties.
The October Revolution placed Dzerzhinsky at that heavy post — the post of head of the Extraordinary Commission for combating counter-revolution. The bourgeoisie knew no name more hateful than the name of Dzerzhinsky, who, with a steel hand, repelled the blows of the enemies of the proletarian revolution. The terror of the bourgeoisie — that was what Felix Dzerzhinsky was.
The “peaceful epoch” came — Dzerzhinsky was burning, putting transport in order, and then, as chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, he burned in the work of building our industry.
Knowing no rest, shrinking from no black labour, giving all his strength, all his energy to the cause entrusted to him by the Party, he burned on the battle work of the proletariat.
Farewell, hero of October! Farewell, faithful son of the Party!
Farewell, builder of the unity and might of our Party!
Pravda, No. 166, 22 July 1926.